Speed Limit Raised on US Highway 287 Four Lanes
Author: Jack H. Smith, Publisher Three Forks Voice
Jack H. Smith
Publisher Three Forks Voice
Earlier this year, the Montana State Legislature passed a bill that raised the speed limit to 75 miles per hour during the day and 70 miles per hour at night on any four-lane portion of National Highways that is 10 miles or longer and not subject to a permanent special speed zone. This includes U.S. 287 between Three Forks and Townsend.
According to Broadwater County Sheriff Nick Rauser, new speed limit signs were installed in the affected areas of the county on October 1.
House Bill 312, sponsored by Rep. Jed Hinkle of Belgrade, passed the House on February 12, the Montana Senate on April 10, and was signed by Governor Greg Gianforte on May 1.
On the House Floor in February, Hinkle said when the Montana Department of Transportation expanded the road to four lanes between Townsend and Wheat Montana, the ability to exceed the speed limit to pass lawfully was taken away.
"So, in other words, when the highway was two lanes, we could exceed the speed limit by 10 miles an hour to pass, but now that it has been expanded to four lanes, we cannot drive faster than 70 without breaking the law," said Hinkle. "Additionally, the nighttime speed limit is 65 for passenger vehicles, the same as a semi-truck. A passenger vehicle cannot pass a semi-truck on this road at night on this four-lane road without breaking the law. When you pass a semi-truck, generally the safest thing to do is to get passed sooner than later and stay out of the truck's blind spot. And as well all know, a slower passage often results in a chipped windshield. So, House Bill 312 solves this problem by offsetting the speed by five miles per hour. That way, on four-lane roads, we can safely pass without breaking the law."
This story was originally published in the Three Forks Voice.
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PhotoCredit: Jack Smith, Three Forks Voice Photographer
Image 1 Caption: Speed limit changes on Highway 287 have been recently posted, starting at the four-lane section between Three Forks and Townsend.
Jack Smith, Three Forks Voice Photographer
